Does hepatic steatosis increase FDG uptake?

Accumulation of (18)F-FDG in the liver in hepatic steatosis.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with hepatic inflammation.

OBJECTIVE: does hepatic steatosis of the liver cause increased FDG uptake?

METHODS: Hepatic FDG uptake (SUV) and CT density were measured in 304 patients referred for routine PET/CT. Blood FDG concentration was measured as the maximum SUV over the left ventricular cavity (SUVLV). Hepatic steatosis was defined as CT density less than 40 HU (n = 71).

RESULTS: Fat-adjusted SUV was higher in patients with hepatic steatosis.

CONCLUSION: FDG uptake is increased in hepatic steatosis, probably resulting from irreversible uptake in inflammatory cells superimposed on reversible hepatocyte uptake.


COMMENT: this may have important implications when performing SUV lesion/liver ratios as an indicator of lesion malignancy.

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2014 Sep;203(3):643-8